Jade Leech MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Leech
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Power	5
Toughness	5
Number	190
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	John Howe

Key Takeaways

Doesn’t grant direct card advantage but enforces a resource-diminishing dilemma on opponents.
Its board presence accelerates game tempo, pressuring opponents into premature play decisions.
Complements decks with instant-speed spells, enhancing their control over the game’s flow.

Text of card

Green spells you play cost o G more to play.

"It took magic to extract one of the stones and five people to carry it." —Tolarian research notes

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While the Jade Leech doesn’t provide direct card advantage, its demanding presence on the battlefield often compels opponents to deal with it immediately, leading them to expend additional resources and cards from their hand which can result in an indirect advantage to the Jade Leech’s controller.

Resource Acceleration: This heavyweight creature doesn’t directly produce mana or accelerate resource production. However, its early presence due to its cost efficiency can apply pressure, thereby accelerating the pace of the game and forcing opponents to react sooner than they might prefer.

Instant Speed: Although the Jade Leech isn’t an instant-speed spell itself, placing it in decks that have access to instant-speed interaction allows its controller to capitalize on the enemy’s rushed or inefficient plays. Consequently, decks that balance the Leech with instant-speed spells potentially enhance their own gameplay cadence.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Jade Leech comes with an unwelcome tax – every time you cast another green spell, you’ve got to pitch another card from your hand. This downside could put you at a serious resource disadvantage, especially when you’re trying to keep up the pressure or looking for that game-winning play.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into a strict green mana requirement, Jade Leech demands a dedicated commitment to forests. This not only restricts your deck-building flexibility but also makes it a tougher squeeze into multi-colored strategies where mana-fixing is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at four mana for a 5/5 creature might not seem too steep, but in a game where efficiency is vital, there are numerous creatures that either cost less for a similar impact or offer additional abilities for the same investment. Jade Leech’s cost can feel hefty when you’re accelerating your mana or facing off against faster, lower-curve decks.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Jade Leech offers substantial value across various deck types that prioritize green mana. Its sheer presence on the battlefield as a powerful creature makes it adaptable to numerous strategies, from ramp to beatdown decks.

Combo Potential: In decks centered around creature abilities and green mana acceleration, Jade Leech works harmoniously. It’s a natural pair with cards that lower creature casting costs or benefit from high-powered creatures entering the fray.

Meta-Relevance: With many decks capitalizing on efficiency and power, Jade Leech competes well in a meta where high-impact creatures are decisive. As MTG evolves, it remains a noteworthy inclusion for anyone aiming to utilize green’s strength and resilience in their deck construction.

How to beat

Jade Leech presents itself as a robust creature in Magic: The Gathering, standing out with its Green mana-intensifying ability. This creature can pose quite the challenge owing to its stats, but with the right strategy, it’s possible to outmaneuver its strengths. Key to this is understanding that every spell you cast that contains Green mana will cost one more.

To gain the upper hand against Jade Leech, it’s vital to regulate your mana efficiently. Consider utilizing removal spells that don’t require Green mana or opting for colorless options like artifacts or Eldrazi spell cards to bypass Jade Leech’s taxing effect. A creature with the power to destroy upon entering the battlefield would be an exemplary choice as well. Moreover, exploiting its Green spell cost increase, counter-strategies could involve accelerating your own mana base while the opponent is slowed down by the additional cost.

The cornerstone of success is to maintain a versatile and flexible deck that can adapt to powerhouses like Jade Leech. With the apt combination of foresight and control, dealing with such a card allows players to demonstrate strategic mastery in their Magic: The Gathering matchups.

Cards like Jade Leech

Jade Leech is a unique green creature that has long intrigued players of Magic: The Gathering. Positioned within the creature category, it shares a kinship with cards like Skyshroud Troll, which also presents a renewable way to preserve it from harm with regeneration, a feature not seen on the Leech. However, the Jade Leech distinguishes itself by bearing a mana-tax ability that increases the cost of green spells, making it a double-edged sword in green heavy decks.

Comparable is the card Thornscape Battlemage, offering a similar mana cost and a kick ability that provides versatility upon casting. Although they inspire different strategies, both cards find their roots in the versatility that the color green can offer. Verduran Emissary is another apt comparison, as it also interferes with mana costs, impacting land instead of spells. Unlike Jade Leech, though, its ability is a one-time use, limited by its destruction of an opponent’s land.

By analyzing their features, Jade Leech shows its true color as a card for more experienced players able to navigate the double-edged nature of its taxing ability, presenting a challenging but rewarding option for those assembling a green deck in Magic: The Gathering.

Thornscape Battlemage - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jade Leech MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Jade Leech and other MTG cards: